To celebrate the British icon turning 50, Mini has introduced the special-edition Mayfair. This limited-run model is all about brown, or "hot chocolate" to be precise. Our test car was painted the unique shade of brown but you can get either black or white with brown trimmings (including bonnet stripes, steering wheel and seats). There are also some Mayfair badges and additional spotlights.

LIKES

It remains a great example of retro style mixed with contemporary design. The interior, even in brown, is an enjoyable environment. The large centre-mounted speedo, fantastic ergonomics and beautiful metallic switchgear combine to give a premium feel. The engine has a nice raspy exhaust note and, despite some spirited driving, fuel use hovered around a reasonable 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Because the Mayfair upgrades are cosmetic, it means the agile performance of the Mini remains. The direct steering is the highlight.

DISLIKES

The downside of the go-kart-like performance is a harsh ride, which compromises comfort significantly. You can tolerate it in the more performance-oriented Cooper S and JCW models but on the 88kW Cooper it gets tiresome. The engine struggles at low revs to get the Cooper moving and leaves you yearning for the turbocharged Cooper S. Unless you are very fond of brown, the Mayfair isn't likely to float your boat.

WOULD I BUY ONE?

For a car so customisable, brown is a brave choice that will only suit a select few. The price is also a turn-off — upwards of $40,000 on the road is a big ask for a three-door hatch.